1 Timothy 5:20

Ver. 20. Those that sin rebuke before all, in order that the rest also may have fear. The participle being employed to designate the offending parties, τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας, implies more than an occasional act of transgression; it denotes persons who are given to sinning, or are known as sinners. Such Timothy is instructed to rebuke openly, before all (for there can be no doubt that the ἐνώπιον πάντων is intended to qualify the rebuking). He was to adopt so severe a method in order to vindicate the cause of righteousness in the community, and to strike fear into others, that they might be deterred from pursuing like devious courses. Hence the case of such is to be distinguished from that of those who may have been overtaken in a fault, and who should, as elsewhere advised, be tenderly dealt with (Galatians 6:1); and in the original instructions given by our Lord respecting grounds of offence among the members of His community, it was clearly implied that a quiet settlement of matters which involved a certain amount of moral blame may and often should be effected, sometimes without the intervention of any church action, and sometimes again by means of it (Matthew 18:15). From the very nature of things, it must always be matter for thoughtful consideration how rebuke should be administered so as best to secure the ends of discipline. Not merely the particular kinds of sin to be dealt with, but the state of society also at the time, must be carefully taken into account, though still there are great landmarks to be stedfastly maintained; and a faithful church must leave no room to doubt that “she cannot bear them that are evil.” Some would understand the class of persons described as sinning, and in consequence deserving of rebuke, only of the elders mentioned in the preceding verse. But this is arbitrary, as in the words themselves there is no proper ground for the limitation; and the one verse does not appear to be any way dependent on the other.